Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An aerosol containing the irritant capsaicin, used to immobilize or incapacitate a person or animal, especially one that is an attacker.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A non-lethal chemical agent which is used in riot control and personal self-defense.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a nonlethal aerosol spray made with the pepper derivative oleoresin capiscum; used to cause temporary blindness and incapacitate an attacker; also used as a bear deterrent

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From the capsaicin content derived from capsicum peppers.]

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